Hey, pollies, you're in my space. Get out!

Ideally, the internet provides many avenues for the public to engage in national policy. This potential has not been realised in Australian politics. The comment boxes on Kevin Rudd's myspace require authentication from the Labor media office. This means that nothing disparaging slips through. Although this is probably justified by the possibilities for inappropriate content to be posted, there remains no provision for genuine public engagement with the parties through the internet.

Worse yet, the clutter of new-media political products threatens to overshadow important political debate.

In the aftermath of the nation's shock horror at Kevin Rudd's visit to a "partial nudity" strip club, a Melbourne men's club, Goldfingers, befriended Rudd on myspace. Rudd's website managers accepted the offer, as they probably do most requests. A media maelstrom soon broke out and conservative parents groups were out in force offering their damnation. Rudd was suddenly irresponsible and unaccountable. The Goldfingers myspace was soon suspended.

Meanwhile, another day passes and the federal election draws closer. Another day wasted on triviality rather than policy.